pathogen-host interaction
The interaction between a pathogen (a disease-causing organism such as a bacterium, virus or parasite) and the living organism, or host, which can develop the disease
In food safety, pathogen-host interaction describes how a disease-causing organism (pathogen) interacts with its host, which can be an animal or a plant. Pathogens can be bacteria, fungus, virus, pest or parasites or prions. Understanding the pathogen-host interaction is important to predict how diseases spread through the food chain and how they might impact health, agriculture, or food safety.
EFSA studies pathogen-host interactions to assess risks from foodborne and zoonotic pathogens, as well as from pests that affect plants. This helps EFSA provide scientific advice to EU authorities for controlling disease spread, designing effective safety measures, surveillance systems, and preventive strategies, and protecting public health, animal health, and the food supply.